shores was eliminated from the total catch of reef fish caught by

domestic reef fish vessels. Total effort, expressed in terms of

standardized vessels, was also adjusted to reflect fishing effort

expended in foreign waters. This adjustment was accomplished by reduc-

ing effort in proportion to the catch of reef fish in foreign waters.

Thus, adjusted catch and effort series for the domestic reef fish

fishery for the years 1957 to 1975 were obtained and used for estimation.

The resulting estimated sustainable yield function was

 C = 71.8004E 0.09256E2 (82)
 (3.094) (.00866)

where C is domestic reef fish catch measured in thousands of pounds, E

denotes effort as measured by the number of standardized vessels and the

estimated standard errors are in parentheses.

 The maximum sustainable yield obtained for equation (82) was esti-

mated to be approximately 13.7 million pounds obtained from 388 stan-

dardized vessels. Given equation (82) and the fact that 486 standardized

reef fish vessels were reported in the fishery in 1975, it is apparent

that current effort levels are greater than those necessary to catch

maximum sustainable yield. The sustainable yield estimate obtained from

equation (82) corresponding to 486 standardized vessels was about 13.0

million pounds, which is about 1.7 million pounds less than the reported

catch. Thus, 1975 catch levels exceeded sustainable yield by a consider-

able amount. Sustainable yield for the MEY effort level of 235


 The adjustment of fishing effort and catch was on an aggregate
basis rather than individually for each state. This resulted from the
absence of specific information on catch and effort off foreign coasts
on a state by state basis.